The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-01
THE GRIFFIN GROVE.
BEAUTIFUL AND PROLIFIC TREES
shell Walks and Other Attractions
for Visitors.
a Ride Across the River TO What Promises to Soon
Become Fasorite East Paiatka Resort

~
po.ite Palatka. \ ride over the swelling
waters of the st. Johns and through the
brisk winds that swept up the river,
sharpened the appetite for the excellent
fruit still ON the tOpmosI branches of
the large tre,-S. and put Us in a good
frame of mind to appreciate the sights to
b.. seen in East PaIatka. Landing at
the ferry wharf at the foot Of the 1t.
Augustine and the San Mateo public
road we climbed "A gentle SLOPE tp a
level above the river. where the grove IL
most admirably located. Off To- the
northwest where. our coolest wheather
comes from IL an open stretch Of some
seven miles of the river. atfordInG most
ample water protection. 50 efficient that
not an orange tree in all the grove was
in TIN. least hurt by the great freeZe of
1sS6. The grove L. ON a beautiful tract
of rich hammock land. Joined on the
south and west by the Hart, Adams and
Downing groves, and ON the north and
west by the. LO1er grove and the river
There are thirty-two acres OF. this tract Of
land with rich soil and undulating sur
face There are some two Thousand
seeding trees located ON either side of
the public road. while Just south of these
are twelve or fifteen hundred budGied
seedIess navel orange trees. At the east
ern edge of the grove IL a number of
young orange trees, and several very
fin. tangerine trees
old, very large for their age. and are pro-
life bearers. one producing last season
seventeen boxes, and four trees III a row
averaging fifteen boxes each. These
| trees are set twenty-five feet each way.
| are between twenty-five and thirty feet
| in height and thu. limbs very nearly lap
| in the middle. of the rows. The navel
orange trees are seven wears old. and in
furnishing and growing condition,
and heavy hearers. The writer has been
| in great many groves IN all sections
| of East Florida. and he can say without
| hesitation, that tht>, trees are finer look
| ing and i'm better condition than any he
| has seen. taking their age into consider
! alton. just now the hearing surface of
these frees are literally covered with
ynung oranges, fresh from the bloom,
and if all of them should stay ON the
branches until they ripened the limbs
would have. To- he supported independent
| of the trunk. Every tree il loaded. Mr..
| Griffin expects to- gather 1T least five
| Thousand boxes nf fruit next winter. and
may get fully seven thousand. if there is
no miShtp-
| The. grove. i, cultivated nu tlI. ''t'lrin
culture. plan. and the only fertilizer
us.,I Is muck. taken from the in,-N h;tn>ti-
bl,. muck beds ON the place. ThI, muck
is piled in huge beds. with lime MIXED in,
where. it Is left tn rot This j. scattered
| along between thu. trees.
| MIR Griffin believes that gosd fruit
will bring good prices. and works on that
principle. His ~e,1lltSs navels are very
Tim. oranges, and this winter many boxes
have been sold in the grove for $500 per
box. Iii, fruit il bright and sound. and
whilt. pleasing the palate, delights the
eye-a perfect fruit. Such fruit never
goes begging in the markets. and always
| brings the highest prices.
In the northern portion of the grove are
two very fine lennon trees, ON which
can be seen fruit in all stages of growth.
from the little fellows which have Just
shed their blooms To- the full grown and
ripening lemon. These trees were not
hurt by the great freeze. There are also
grape fruit trees and figs. while along
the river edge are several varieties of
bananas. in thrifty and vigorous con.
dition.
The grove Is the largest one ON the
point. and in the midst of the. tin,
groves of East Palatka. Next season thu
ferry boats will he run regularly to III.
wharf. During the summer a number o
shell walks will h. constructed leading
from the gate through the grove. along
which will lie located comfortable seat
under the magnolia and orange trees. fol
the use of visitors To the grove. Ii Is tn,
intention of the. owner to make the grow,
very attractive, and have it open at al
times for visitors. Ii IL a lovely spot
easy of access. and hundreds and thou
|
hereafter. a large and convenient,
arranged packing house i on the prem
is.s. where visitors can select the frui
they may wish To- ship To- friends, an,
have il packed to- suit their own ideas.
Mr.. Griffin Is To be congratulated il
owning this, one of the finest and mos
valuable groves on the 81. Johns river
and W. know of NO one who better Il.
serves such good fortune.
List "f Patents Granted March ~, 9
! Residents Of Alabama and G-orgis-
. ALABAMA.
y. o. Mct;ehet Montgom. cntto
condenser.
W. w. Phillips. Rawhi,i,- Ala. h"rs
detacher.
} GEORGIA
[ w g. Browne. Atlanta, four aut'
r matte cut-otfs for water pipes
ID. l.. Cheek, Gainesville, vehicle shaft
j. NJ Cosby. Elberton, foot power al
tachment for sewing machines
= j. X. Wilkinson. atlanta. w-igiin
scale.
IN, EI,rf.Ia